Method and device for turning and relaxing springs

ABSTRACT

With the device according to the invention pocketed uprightly standing springs ( 3 ) may be securely set up. A pivotably arranged rod ( 13 ) comes into contact with the upper lying end rings and displaces these within the spring pocket ( 1 ) to the side. If it is not succeeded in setting up the spring ( 3 ) with the first displacement then at least a further time it gets into the pivoting region of the rod ( 13 ) and then together with the subsequent spring ( 3 ) is set up.

[0001] The subject-matter of the invention is a method for turning andrelaxing springs pressed into a block and applied in a spring pocketrow.

[0002] The subject-matter of the invention is a method for turning andrelaxing springs pressed into a block and applied in a spring pocketrow, according to the introductory part of claim 1. The subject-matteris further a device for turning and relaxing springs pressed into ablock and applied in a spring pocket row, according to the introductorypart of claim 3.

[0003] Springs for the manufacture of mattresses, cushioned furniture,cushions and likewise may be connected to one another in various mannersin order in the connected condition to be covered over with covermaterials and a case material. With the present invention it is the caseof springs which are applied in rows in textile pockets of cottonmaterial or fleece, so-called spring pocket rows, these spring pocketrows later being mutually connected to one another, e.g. by way ofultrasound are welded or adhesed. After the manufacture of the springson a spring winding machine these in the axial direction are pressedtogether to a block, i.e. the spring windings bear completely on oneanother. In this pressed-together form there is effected the insertioninto the spring pocket row which mostly consists of cotton material bandor fleece band folded between its longitudinal edges. Before or afterthe insertion then between the springs coming to lie in a row pressedtogether there are incorporated or seamed linear weldings so that therearise individual pocket sections. After insertion of the springs thefree edges of the pocket material are connected to one another. Thepocketed springs then more or less lie held pressed together within thepocket sections or the spring pocket row and for the further processingmust be relocated by 90° so that they may be at least partly relaxed andmay assume the usage height.

[0004] From EP-A1 0 967 031 there is known a device with which thepocketed, pressed-together springs within the pocket section may berelocated and relaxed. With this known device the spring pocket rowalong a longitudinal edge of the pocket material is held by a clampingdevice. Thereafter each individual spring by a propeller-like wing whosehorizontally lying axis is arranged above the pressed-together spring isseized by a wing end and the above-lying end ring of the spring isdisplaced parallel to the seams forming the pocket sections. By way ofthis the spring may be partly relaxed. As soon as the upper end windingwith respect to the lower, stationary end ring has reached a certaindistance the spring turns by itself and its axis then lies in thehorizontal, i.e. parallel to the weld seams between the individualpocket sections. In another formation of the known device in place of apropeller there is a push finger which is traversable transverse to thespring pockets and which likewise seizes the pressed-together springs attheir upper end ring and thus laterally displaces them until the springby way of the intrinsic tension force turnes by 90°. A furtherpossibility of setting up the springs is a rotating worm whose threadturns achieve the same effect.

[0005] The known devices fullfill their object perfectly as long as allmovements and the mutual position of the push finger and spring areexactly coordinated to one another and the spring furthermore is notmanufactured of a thin wire. Even if for any reason the relocating (intechnical language also called setting-up) of the spring is not effectedstraight away, the spring remains in the initial position and mustsubsequently be relocated by hand. This makes a perfect method procedureimpossible. Furthermore with the rotating worm there exists the dangerof damage to the pocket material.

[0006] The object of the present invention is the creation of a methodand a device for relocating pocketed springs which ensure that allsprings in the pocket sections after running through the device assumethe desired position.

[0007] This object is achieved by a method with the features of patentclaim 1 as well as with a device with the features of patent claim 3.

[0008] With the method according to the invention and the deviceaccording to the invention one succeeds in a perfect turning of thesprings by way of the fact that each spring moves into the active regionof the rod with which the spring is set up, not only once but severaltimes. At the same time it is not important whether the spring liesexactly in the middle of the pocket section or not. It is also notimportant which geometric shape the end rings have. If in the springpocket rows there are present empty pockets whose width may be unequalto the filled pockets, by way of these position displacements thereoccur no problems on setting up the springs in the neighboring pockets.Furthermore damage to the pocket material may be prevented since the rodlaterally seizes the spring and there are always exerted only the forcesnecessary for the turning, these being distributed over a large surfaceonto the springs and onto the textile pocket material lying between thespring and the rod. The method may be retrospectively installed intoexisting pocket spring machines and has only a few parts which aremaintenance-free and which may be adapted to the springs to be machinedwith little effort. With conventional devices with push fingers thedrive of the latter may be directly used for the drive of the push rod.A retrofitting is possible with little effort.

[0009] By way of illustrated embodiment examples the invention isdescribed in more detail. There is shown in

[0010]FIG. 1 a perspective representation of a spring pocket row withsix pressed-together springs after insertion into the spring pocketsections and the already relocated (set-up) springs (pivot rod directlybefore pivoting movement),

[0011]FIG. 2 a perspective representation of a spring pocket row duringthe setting-up of the springs (pivot rod shortly before the end of thepivoting movement),

[0012]FIG. 3 a prespective representation of a spring pocket row afterthe pivoting up of the pivot rod and the beginning of the advance of thespring pocket row,

[0013]FIG. 4 a perspective representation of the spring pocket row afterpivoting back the pivot rod into the initial position (the spring pocketrow has been advanced by one position),

[0014]FIG. 5 a schematic representation (plan view) of the spring pocketrow without an empty pocket (above) and a spring pocket row with anempty pocket (below),

[0015]FIG. 6 a plan view (schematic) of a spring pocket row with apivoted-out pivot rod,

[0016]FIG. 7 a plan view (schematic) of a spring pocket row with thepivot rod in the initial position,

[0017]FIG. 8 a plan view (schematic) of a spring pocket row, but with anenlarged representation of the pivot rod,

[0018]FIG. 9 a cross section through the spring pocket row and the pivotrod at the beginning of the pivot movement,

[0019]FIG. 10 a cross section through a spring pocket row with a pivotrod of a further formation of the invention at the beginning of thepivoting movement,

[0020]FIG. 11 a perspective representation of a rod drive with which thelinear drive is only pivotable in the vertical direction,

[0021]FIG. 12 a perspective representation of the rod drive, with whichthe linear drive is pivotably linked in the vertical as well ashorizontal direction

[0022]FIG. 13 a perspective representation of a further embodiment formof the drive for the push rod.

[0023] The cutout shown schematically in FIG. 1 shows a spring pocketrow 1 in which on the right side in pocket sections there lie sixsprings 3 which are in each case pressed together into a block. Theyassume this position after they have been inserted by a suitablydesigned known insert device in the direction of the arrow P in thepocket section a, b, c, d, e, f, g, h, i initially open along the edge5. Between the individual springs 3 the spring pocket row 1 is dividedinto a multitude of pocket sections by seams, for example by way ofseams 7 welded by ultrasound or manufactured with a sewing machine.After the insertion of the pressed-together springs 3 the open side ofthe pocket sections are closed by a seam 9 running parallel to the row1. The three springs 3 shown on the left side have already been turnedby 90° by way of a spring setting-up or spring-turning device. The axesof symmetry A of these springs 3 now lie turned by 90° to the initialposition. The spring pocket row 1 is advanced in the direction of thearrow S in steps on a rest and transport surface 11 by way of means notshown. The insertion of the springs pressed together to a block iseffected, not shown in the Figures, on the right side of the Figures.The pressed-together springs which then lie within the pocket sectionsand whose axes lie perpendicular to the transport surface by way of theadvance steps get into the region of a push rod 13 which is arrangedlaterally to the edge 5 and whose lower limb 14 in the initial positionlies parallel to the edge 5 and extends over the length of severalpocket sections. The push rod 13 at its end 21 is pivotably linked aboutan axis B. The other end 15 is fastened on a connection rod 17 whichcreates a connection to a linear drive 19 which permits a horizontalpivoting movement of the push rod 13 about the axis B. A second lineardrive 23 which is connected to the end of the drive rod 25 of the firstlinear drive permits a vertical movement of the push rod 13. A linkedconnection 25 between the drive rod of the second linear drive 23 to theconnection rod 17 permits the movablity required for setting up thesprings 4.

[0024] In the first embdoment example of the invention the linear drive19 at its end 27 distant to the push rod 13 is linkedly connected to themachine frame (not shown). In the idle position (broken lines) the lowerlimb 14 of the rod 13 lies parallel to the edge 5 of the spring pocket 1and inclined at an acute angle to the plane of the transport surface 11.At the beginning of the now subsequently described setting-up procedureaccording to FIG. 1 already three springs lie in their final position(horizontal axis A) in the pocket sections a, b, c. To these threesprings 3 there connect the pocket sections d-i in which the springs arestill pressed together as a block. The push rod 13 or its lower-lyinglimb 14 by way of the second linear drive has been traversed into theworking position in which the lower limb 14 now lies parallel oressentially parallel to the transport surface 11 (compare cross-sectionsaccording to FIGS. 9 and 10). The limb 14 of the push rod 13 and aprofile 29 fastened on the limb 14 or a sleeve 31 rotatably fastened onthe rod lie at a distance Y to the transport surface 11. The distance isdimensioned such that the front edge 33 of the profile 29 or the frontapex of the sleeve 31 lies below the upper end ring 35 of the spring 3.

[0025] During the working stroke (FIG. 2) the first linear drive 19 nowpivots the rod 13 about the axis B (arrow direction Z). With this thespring 3 which is located in the pocket section d is seized on or belowits end ring 35 and is displaced transversly to the pocket row 1. Nowthe spring 3 tilts within the pocket section d and is relaxed so thatits axis at the end of the pivoting procedure lies horizontally orparallel to the transport surface 11. The neighboring spring 3 in thepocket section e is likewise seized by the rod 13, but possibly notcompletely tilted over. If it has only been partly seized then possiblywhen the rod 13 moves up (FIG. 3) it will return back into the initialpressed-together position. This is however not important since with thenext advance of the push rod 13 which is effected after the pockedspring row has been advanced by a pocket section width, the spring 3 isseized once again and as previously the spring 3 is set up in the pocketsection d.

[0026] So that the rod 13 ray return back into the initial position, asalready mentioned it is lifted at the end of the first working stroke bythe second linear drive 23 and is guided back by the first linear drive19 into the initial position (compare FIG. 4). Now the advance of thepocket spring row may be effected.

[0027] During the pivoting of the rod 3 the pocket spring row 1 on itsedge 5 is held firm by way of an inclined means which is not shown, inorder to avoid a displacement on the transport surface 13.

[0028] Spring interior mattresses may have varying widths. This meansthat in the pocket spring rows 1 a varying number of pocket springs 3 orpocket spring sections are present. Also the diameter of the springs 3is different according to the design of the spring interior. At the endof such a spring pocket row 1 coordinated to the width of the springinterior either a pocket section is left empty or preferably a narrowerempty section is produced. In particular by way of the production of anarrower section (empty pocket) there results a position displacementbetween the push rod 13 and the position of the spring 3 with respect tothe push rod 13. This displacement may either be alleviated by way of asuitable correction of the advance or one may do away with it since thepush rod 13 according to the invention is likewise capable of setting upsprings 3 which do not always lie at exactly the same location. FromFIG. 5 it is clearly evident how such a displacement v is effected andhow it has an effect on the distance of the two neighboring springs 3.

[0029] In the FIGS. 6 and 7 it is shown how simply the setting-updevice, i.e. the push rod 13 is adjustable to the conditions, i.e. thedistance W between the individual springs 3 or spring pocket sections(FIG. 7) or their height H. The adjustment of the insert device with achange of the distance W is effected by way of a simple displacementalong the arrows M, the setting of the device to the height H of thespring 3 is effected by the stroke of the first linear drive 19 whichhas the effect of a change of the pivoting angle of the rod 13 about theaxis B. Preferably the front end E of the rod 13 or of the roller 31 orof the profile 29 is located between two springs 3. With this it may beachieved that the spring 3 does not catch on the edge E. Furthermore thedamage to the pocket material is further reduced.

[0030] In the following, two further embodiment examples of drives forthe rod 13 are explained In FIG. 11 the linear drive 19 is linked abouta horizontal axis C to a machine frame which is not shown. At the frontend of the push rod 17 there is formed a spherical bearing or joint 25which together with a fastening plate 41 pivotable about the axis qcompensates the deflection of the verically running guide part 18 of therod 13 with the working stroke and on lifting. The lifting of the rod 13is effected by the pneumatic cylinder (linear drive) 23 which likewiseis linked onto the machine frame which is not shown and which engagesthe linear drive 19. The first end 21 of the rod 13 is as already shownin FIG. 3 pivotably guided about the fixed axis B in a spherical bearing43. The drive device for the rod 13 shown in FIG. 11 corresponds to thatas is used for the relocating and setting-up finger known from the stateof the art and is further usable as a drive for the rod 13. In theembodiment of the rod drive according to FIG. 12 the linear drive 19 forthe working stroke as well as the stroke drive 23 for lifting the rod 13and the connection between the push rod 13 and the connection rod 18 areconnected to one another by spherical bearings. This permits a designconstruction which is very simple and inexpensive to manufacture. In theembodiment of the invention according to FIG. 13 which has similaritiesto that of FIG. 1, the linear drive 19 is rigidy connected to themachine frame which is not shown. The lift drive 23 is connected on thefront end of the drive rod 25 of the first drive 19. The lengthcompensation between the end of the push rod 13 and the fixedly arrangeddrive arrangement is effected by a slotted plate 47 which is fastened atthe end of the drive rod of the second linear drive 23.

[0031] Alternatively to a pivoting movement of the rod 13 this in theoblique position as is shown in FIG. 6 may be designed displaceableperpendicular to the transport direction S over the pocket spring row 1and vertically adjustable in height (no picture).

1. A method for turning and relaxing springs (3) pressed together into ablock and applied in pocket sections (a, b, . . . ) of a spring pocketrow (1) for the manufacture of spring pockets for mattresses andlikewise, characterized by the following working steps: a) stopping andsecuring on one side the spring pocket row (1) in the region of alongitudinal edge (5), b) pivoting a rod (13) which is initially locatedlaterally of the spring pocket row (1) and which in the longitudinaldirection of the spring pocket row (1) extends over several pocketedsprings (3), over the springs (3) lying laterally next to it, c) seizingthe springs (13) lying in the pivoting or displacement region of the rod(13) in the region of the upper lying end rings (35) and turning theseized end rings (3) within the spring pocket sections (a, b, . . . ).2. A method according to claim 1, characterized in that the rod (13)before the pivoting or displacing is lowered from an idle position intothe working position and after the working stroke is lifted and led backover the spring pocket row (1).
 3. A device for turning and relaxingsprings (3) pressed to a block and applied in a spring pocket (1) forthe manufacture of spring interiors for mattresses and likewise,comprising a turning organ which is displaceable transversely to thespring pocket (1) and which seizes the springs (3) through the springpocket row (1), and a means for the temporarily securing the springpocket (1) on one of the longitudinal edges (5) on turning the spring(3), characterized in that the turning organ comprises a push rod (13)which by way of a drive (19) is pivotably or displaceably mounted at anacute angle to the transport direction (S) of the spring pocket row (1).4. A device according to claim 3, characterized in that the push rod(13) at one end (21) is connected to a link and at the other end (15) tothe first drive (19), and that a second single-end drive for lifting andlowering the push rod (13) engages onto the latter or onto the firstdrive (19).
 5. A device according to one of the claims 3 or 4,characterized in that on the push rod (13) there is formed a profilerail (29) or that on the push rod (13) there is attached a tubularroller (31) gripping around the push rod (13).
 6. A device according toone of the claim 3 to 5, characterized in that the push rod (13) may beset and adjusted in the transport direction (S) of the spring pocket row(1) and/or perpendicular to the rest (11).
 7. A device according to oneof the claims 3 to 6, characterized in that the stroke of the firstdrive (19) is adjustable.
 8. A device according to one of the claims 3to 7, characterized in that the rod (13) is displaceable in thetransport direction (S) of the spring pocket row (1).
 9. A deviceaccording to one of the claims 3 to 8, characterized in that thepivoting angle of the rod (13) can be adjusted.
 10. A device accordingto one of the claims 3 or 9, characterized in that the working height(g) of the rod (13) with respect to the rest surface of the springpocket row (1) on the underlay (11) is adjustable.